Air India Express Flight Makes Hard Landing in Phuket, Nose Wheels Detach
An Air India Express Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, operating flight IX 938 from Hyderabad to Phuket, experienced a severe hard landing at Phuket International Airport on Wednesday morning. The incident, which involved 138 people on board—132 passengers and six crew members—resulted in both nose wheels detaching upon the second contact with the runway after an initial bounce.
Details of the Incident and Immediate Aftermath
The flight had departed from Hyderabad at 6:23 am local time and landed in Phuket at 11:25 am local time. Following the hard touchdown, the aircraft became stuck on the runway, forcing the closure of the airport's sole airstrip for several hours to conduct necessary safety checks. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among passengers or crew.
Authorities, including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India, are in coordination with Thailand's aviation officials. The aircraft, registered as VT-BWQ, has been grounded at Phuket, and Air India Express plans to dispatch engineers to assess and repair the damage.
Passenger Accounts and Airline Response
A video shared on social media platform X, captured by a passenger during the descent, vividly depicts the moment of impact. The footage shows the plane losing balance abruptly, accompanied by sounds of children shrieking and passengers gasping in fear. The passenger who recorded the video described the landing as exceptionally harsh, noting a burning smell inside the cabin, likely associated with the front wheel damage.
In response, Air India Express issued a public apology, expressing regret over the incident. The airline confirmed that standard protocols were followed, and all guests were safely deplaned on the runway before being transported to the terminal building.
Impact on Airport Operations and Investigation
The runway closure led to significant disruptions, with at least 20 flights being diverted to alternative airports. Flight tracking site Flightradar24 reported that the runway remained shut for nearly seven hours post-incident, with operations expected to resume later in the day after repairs were completed.
By around 5:30 pm IST, Air India Express released an update stating that the nose wheels had been reinstalled, allowing normal airport activities to recommence. The airline emphasized that a thorough investigation will be conducted in accordance with established procedures, in consultation with Thailand's Aviation Investigation Authorities, as Thailand is the state of occurrence.
Maintenance History and Safety Measures
A senior DGCA official disclosed that the aircraft's nose wheels had undergone routine replacement on March 8, 2026, as part of standard maintenance. The incident is classified as a suspected hard landing with a bounce, and further probes will determine the exact causes to prevent future occurrences.
This event underscores the importance of rigorous aviation safety protocols and highlights the collaborative efforts between Indian and Thai authorities to ensure passenger security and operational integrity.
